Caramel Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins (Printer-Friendly)

Moist banana muffins topped with sweet caramel cream cheese swirls, perfect for snacking or dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Muffin Batter

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1/4 cup vegetable oil
09 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1/4 cup whole milk

→ Caramel Cream Cheese Swirl

13 - 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
15 - 1 large egg yolk
16 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - 1/4 cup thick caramel sauce

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or coat lightly with nonstick spray.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, vegetable oil, and sugar until combined. Add mashed bananas, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Whisk until smooth.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain muffin texture.
05 - In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold in caramel sauce, creating marbled streaks throughout.
06 - Spoon batter into each muffin cup, filling approximately two-thirds full. Dollop 1 tablespoon of caramel cream cheese mixture onto each muffin. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl mixture into batter.
07 - Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Avoid testing through cream cheese swirl.
08 - Allow muffins to cool in tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The caramel cream cheese swirl stays soft and luxurious in the center while the banana muffin stays moist around it, creating two textures in every bite.
  • They're sturdy enough to eat with your hands but fancy enough to bring to someone's house without feeling like you didn't try.
  • The prep is genuinely simple, and the payoff feels disproportionately impressive given how little actual skill is required.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold straight from the fridge, it won't blend smoothly with the sugar and egg yolk; leave it on the counter for 20 minutes, and everything becomes effortless.
  • Don't test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cream cheese swirl itself, because it will always come out moist and you'll think the muffin is underbaked when it's actually perfect.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together more smoothly and create a better texture than cold ingredients straight from the fridge; take five minutes to let things sit on the counter.
  • Thick caramel sauce is non-negotiable for the swirl to stay visible and not sink straight to the bottom, so check your bottle before you start baking.
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